Procedure:
The procedure can be performed in standing animals, so restraint is key, including a crush and a halter to ensure to head is kept still. Sedation is often given, and was used in these cases, to keep the animals calm during the procedure. Pre - operative antibotics and anti - inflamatories are also given. The area of the eye is clipped and scrubbed for surgery and local anesthesia of the eye applied, there are a few techniques but most often we use the retrobulbar technique. The ‘ four - point ’ retrobulbar block is performed by injecting through the eyelids, at the 6 and 12 o ’ clock positions and at the edges of the eyelids. This block targets the ocular nerves very well. The eyelids are stitched together so that the eye is covered during surgery. An elliptical incision is then made in the skin, generally about 1 - 2 cm from the edge of the eyelid. In the case of a tumour, we would make sure we take enough to comfortably get all of it. It is important to leave adequate normal tissue on the upper and lower lid to allow optimal closure. The incision is continued through the subcutaneous tissue and down to the orbital muscle. We then carefully cut and disect around the orbit, until the eyeball and conjunctival sac is loosened from its muscular attachment. Once the eyeball is freed from its muscular attachments, it is possible to reach around behind the globe and find the optic stalk. Essentially, the surgery is a lot like scooping the eye out of the eye socket. The optic stalk and its blood supply can then be grasped with a pair of forceps and cut in close proximity to the eyeball. The empty eye socket is packed with sterilised swab material to prevent blood filling up the dead space. Utilising the packing material does require a further post - op visit for removal. The remaining skin around the eye is stitched together, and a section of the packing material left out for ease of removal.
Post - Operative Care
In this case, the animals were assessed three days later, and the packing material removed. Skin sutures are removed 2 - 3 weeks post - operatively. Animals recover and cope well following remov- al of an eye, there are potential impacts on the hierarchy within groups of animals, although this tends to be more of an issue when dealing with groups of bulls housed together.
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